'Ali Zaoua' wins 'Suvarna Chakoram'

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, APRIL 6.

The Moroccan film, `Ali Zaoua', produced and directed by Mr. Nabil Ayouch, won the `Suvarna Chakoram', the top prize of the Sixth International Film Festival of Kerala, carrying a purse of Rs. 6 lakhs.

Announcing the prize at the closing ceremony of the festival here on Friday, Mr. Istvan Gaal, jury chairman, praised the film for its ``sensitive portrayal of the life of a group of Moroccan children, indemonstrable spirit, excellent use of cinematic technique, scripting, editing, music and sound, and skilful handling of children.'' He described it as a ``powerful, socially significant film.''

Mr. Ayouch, born of Moroccan-French parents, was brought up in Paris. His debut work was an all-time hit in Morocco. It represented the country at the 1999 Oscars.

The IFFK award for the best director went to Mr. Takaki Watanabe, for `Maiden of the Spring'. The jury lauded the ``strong, directorial hand in controlling poetic allegory, action, imagery, sound and a stellar cast.''

Mr. Watanabe received the award, carrying a purse of Rs. 3 lakhs, from the Chief Minister, Mr. E.K. Nayanar.

The Special Jury Prize for the Best Writer went to Mr. K.P. Kumaran (`Thottam'), for weaving ``a classic Indian folk song against oppression of tribals and, particularly, women into a successful, dramatic screen story.''

Mr. Kumaran was not present to receive the award.

The Special Jury Prize for the Best Writer also went to Dr. Hadi Karami (`Maral'), for ``a skilfully crafted story that powerfully dramatises the issues of justice and women's rights and shows how individual character, psychology and behaviour interact with these issues.'' The producer of the film, Ms. Paria Sabooki, received the award on behalf of Dr. Karami.

The FIPRESCI (Federation of International Film Critics) prize was also given to `Ali Zaoua'. The FIPRESCI jury chairman, Mr. Klaus Eder, extolled the ``sensitive portrayal of the street- children of Casablanca.''

The FIPRESCI prize also went to the Malayalam film, `Mankolangal', directed by Subramanian Santhakumar, for its ``warm study of a marginalised community.''

Nine feature films had competed for the honours.

The other members of the IFFK jury were Mr. Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Iranian director, Mr. William Greaves, American documentary film- maker, Mr. Wolfgang Langsfeld, director of the Munich International Film Festival, and Ms. Vijaya Mehta, Hindi-Marathi director.

The FIPRESCI jury included Mr. Mofidul Haque from Bangladesh and Ms. Rekha Deshpande from Mumbai.

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